Can-opener.



E. L. FUNK.

CAN GPENER.

APPLICATION man DEC-1,1916.

Patented J 11116 5, 1917.

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OFFTQE.

EDWARD L. FUNK, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAN-OPEN ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Application filed December 1, 1916. SefialNo. 134,430.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. FUNK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in can openers, and has for its object to provide a cheap, simple and efficient device for opening cans of any make, shape or size, in such a manner as to leave little or no obstruction to the contents when being emptied therefrom. A further object of the invention is to provide an opener of such a construction that there will be no danger of slipping, and consequent injury therefrom, and to so cut the can that the edge thereof will be slightly turned over and smooth to avoid injury in handling the can after it is opened.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth in the following specification and pointed out in detail in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can showing my invention in the position when cutting out the top of a can.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the opener when cutting the can below the top.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the cutter.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, 1 designates the handle into the end of which is secured the metal projection 2 which latter has a cross-piece 3 at its outer end having a shoulder 4: on one end thereof. The said projection 2 below said cross piece 3 is slightly curved to form the shoulders 5. The cutting blade 6 is secured to the projection 2 by screws 7 or other suitable means, and has its surface flush with the surface of the said projection 3 to prevent turning. This cutting blade 6 has a pointed cutting edge 8 at one side and the two diverging cutting edges 9 and 10 in the center thereof, the end 10 being slightly bent at its outer extremity, as seen in Fig. 5, to avoid striking the can seams, when cutting with the cutting edge 10.

When it is desired to open the can from the top the cutting edge 10 is used, as seen in Fig. 1, the short end of the cross-piece 8 resting on the side of the can and forming a guide, the upward movement of the handle causing the tin to curl upward and slightly over toward the edge of the. can as the cutting is being done, thus leaving little or no edge to obstruct the contents of the can when the same is being emptied.

When it is desired to open what is known as sanitary cans, that is cans having their tops sealed without solder, and which have their outer edge projecting above the top, the opener is placed with the shoulder 4 back of said edge against which it hooks and holds the end of the opener while the cutting edge 8 is forced into the side of the can just below the upper edge until the edge 9 enters the can and then by pulling the handle away from the can body causes the cutting edge 9 to cut the tin and cause the edge to curl outwardly slightly. The shoulder 4 rests on the top of the can and forms a guide for the cutter. It will be seen that when cutting from the side, as shown in Fig. 2, there is no edge inside the can after it is opened and consequently no obstruction to the contents when being emptied therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A can opener comprising a handle having a cross-piece at one end thereof and a shoulder on one end of said cross-piece, a cutting blade having a pointed cutting edge at one side back of said shoulder and two diverging cutting edges at the center projecting under said cross-piece.

2. A can opener comprising a handle having a cross-piece at one end thereof and a shoulder on one end of said cross-piece, a cutting blade having a pointed cutting edge at one side back of said shoulder and two diverging cutting edges at the center projecting under said cross-piece and one of which is slightly bent at its outer end.

3. A can opener comprising a handle having a cross-piece at one end and two curved shoulders under said cross-piece, said crossend thereof, a cutting blade having a, pointed piece being provided with a shoulder on one In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in the presenceof two Witnesses.

cutting edge at one side back of said oross- V piece and two diverging cutting edges at EDWARD F the centers projecting under said cross-piece, and one of Which is slightly bent at its outer end.

Vitnesses: 1

CHAPIN A. FERGUSON, THELMA BENLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseaeh, by eddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

